Content and Language Integrated Learning Implementation Through Team Teaching in Biology Lessons: A Quasi-Experimental Design With University Students

• Published in: Frontiers in education (Lausanne) Vol. 7
• Main Authors: Satayev, Malik, Balta, Nuri, Shaymerdenovna, Izbassarova R., Fernández-Cézar, Raquel, Alcaraz-Mármol, Gema
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A 14.03.2022
• Subjects: biology education; CLIL; digestive system; team teaching; university students
• ISSN: 2504-284X; 2504-284X
• DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2022.867447

Can engaging university students in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) increase their achievement in Biology and English language? The current study explored the effectiveness of team teaching enhanced CLIL on student achievement. Framed in interdisciplinary/cross-curricular teaching, we examined the effect of CLIL strategy on student achievement in a quasi-experimental study with a sample of Biology education students ( N = 25) assigned to control and experimental groups. The topic taught through CLIL was the digestive system, and this subject knowledge was used to test the students’ achievement in Biology. Along with t -test and Mann-Whitney U -test a non-parametric ANCOVA was carried out to reveal group differences. We found that engaging in CLIL significantly improved student achievement both in Biology subject knowledge and English language. We highlight the critical role of CLIL in teaching content and language for science subjects such as Biology at university level.